Review: Drake's 'Nothing Was the Same' cements his position on top

Canada is actually not as blah musically as some think; it has produced some of the biggest music figures of our generation, and no, I'm not talking about Justin Bieber.

Drake, or Jimmy Brooks from Degrassi as a lot of people remember him, is back after his wildly successful album, Take Care. This Canadian singer-rapper is one of the biggest names in the rap world yet I still find it hard to group him in the same category as Lil Wayne, for example. Drake's music possesses more depth and emotion, incorporating some raps similar to Lil Wayne and Kanye, but also songs with special R&B influence. This soul-driven vibe makes Drake an artist who sticks to the good stuff without becoming static.

Drake is consistently good and he's starting to really think so, too. In the strong album opener, Tuscan Leather, Drake states, "This is nothing for the radio/But they'll still play it though/Cuz it's the new Drizzy Drake, that's just the way it go." He is creating the music he wants without isolating fans, which is a challenge not many artists are capable of handling. "I'm just as famous as my mentor," he raps, which seems to be the norm lately, the protégés getting bigger than their teachers. It's the same with Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, the Creator, for example. This record is a triumphant moment for Drake, and he is basking in it.

Hold On, We're Going Home is a prime example of the R&B touch that seduces listeners. Tied with Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2, it is the brightest moment on the album. It's one of those songs you could be blasting in your car that suddenly makes you feel as if you're the main character in the closing credits of a feel-good movie.

Drake started at the bottom, and now he is here. Here, as in being one of the most well-known and respected hip-hop artists of our generation. Nothing Was the Same is an album that truly reinforces Drizzy Drake's position on top.